Maisie thought carefully. “Do you really think we can risk it?”
“Certainly, we can. We must, Maisie. We are going to be right there in Jerusalem. So, you and I will find a proper guide to get us to your grandparents’ home. We’ll find them and you will have a visit and it will be our secret.”
Looking at Emma, Maisie saw nothing but compassion and warmth as she waited for her answer.
“Emma, I can’t tell you how much this means to me. Thank you!”
The days flew by, and all too soon, the Jerusalem segment of the trip was behind them, leaving Maisie filled with a new understanding of the life of her grandparents. Exhausted but filled with contentment as they embarked on their journey to London, she pulled out her writing paper to send a long overdue letter to Winnipeg.
March 18, 1912
Dear Uncle Zev, Tanta Hannah and all my cousins,
I am writing to you with a heart full of joy in having seen Baba and Zaida at their home in Jerusalem. I must tell you first that they look well and are deeply happy with their life. I am indebted to Miss Willows who was able to arrange the surprise visit in complete secrecy from her family. Everything went very smoothly and it was the most beautiful moment of the entire journey for me.
Baba and Zaida live in a small apartment in what is known as the Jewish Quarter. They have made friends among the neighbors and have made a good life centered on Zaida’s work at the synagogue and his continued support for the Zionist movement in Canada. His eyes light up with excitement as he speaks of his daily studies with the other scholars. For Zaida, it is clear that the spiritual connection he has to this ancient land is a great source of strength and contentment. He is truly fulfilled and looks years younger than his age. He says he feels he is home in a way he never felt anywhere else.
Baba, too, has become accustomed to her very different life here and proudly showed me how she has adapted her cooking to take advantage of the fresh fruits and vegetables in the market place. She made a beautiful lunch for Miss Emma and me to enjoy with them.
I would say they live humbly but are lacking nothing they consider important. They miss Mrs. Weidman, of blessed memory, who is interned on the Mount of Olives. Mr. Weidman continues on well enough and has a new wife who looks after him with great kindness.
Baba and Zaida are also staying in touch with other families who have come from Winnipeg and Montreal to live in Jerusalem. There are quite a number of people from Canada here.
Several of these families live in communal farm communities known as kibbutzim. It is a very different way of life. They all work very hard here, but there is joy in their commitment. Everyone says it is a relief not to deal with the bitter Canadian winters.
Jerusalem is really the most amazing city you can imagine. To walk on paths that are thousands of years old and imagine who may have been in the very spot where I stood looking up at the old stone walls of the city is a very humbling experience. The walls are light in color, almost white, actually, and appear washed in gold.
Beautiful bursts of green plants have affixed themselves to the walls, high off the ground, somehow managing to grow in nothing but the mortar between the stones. It is astonishing. To me it is like the Jewish people who have also planted themselves in the most inhospitable grounds to flourish wherever God has taken them. It is quite beyond description.
Everywhere, the stone buildings rise above the pathways. Children run through the streets with their games, and women call out to peddlers who make their rounds.
Jerusalem is filled with colorful sights and sounds one cannot hear anywhere else in the world, I believe. It is a city filled with people and animals, and such a blend of cultures and beliefs. The air is light and warm, like summer in Winnipeg, with a clear blue sky, hot in the day and cool at night. There are few signs of wealth and modern convenience. Here you see people herding goats and riding camels and donkeys.
In every market and bazaar the vendors reach out to touch and tug at the passersby, desperate to sell their wares. The foods, and especially the fruits, are exotic and strange, but ever so appealing, as are the sounds of the jangling instruments and spirited drum beats of the Arab children playing their instruments in the streets.
I have been so fortunate to see so many wondrous sights, like the pyramids and the Sphinx in Egypt, the ruins of Athens in Greece, and finally, Jerusalem. I understand now why Zaida has worked his whole life toward this goal of living in this sacred place. It sings to you and wakes up something that sleeps inside the soul, Zaida says. I think he’s right. It makes me weep just to think of it. It makes me feel different about who I am. But, I will save that to talk about when I am sitting at your table, drinking tea and enjoying Tanta Hannah’s delicious honey cake. How I miss all of you!
It has been incredibly interesting to see so much and to have these wonderful experiences, but I will be very happy to be home in Winnipeg again. We are now making our way to Paris and then London where the Willows family will relax for a few days in preparation for the voyage to New York and then the long train ride to Winnipeg.
Tanta Hannah, I know you always worry about travel, especially when it involves the ocean. You must know that you should not worry. Everyone has been talking about the Titanic being an unsinkable ship. So, you see, I will be home safe and full of stories in your house in just a short few weeks.
Love,
Maisie
Chapter Fifty-Two
London Farewell
April 7, 1912
London’s elegant Metropole Hotel was filled to capacity and humming with activity as the staff and management scrambled to keep up with the needs of their guests. All of London seemed alive with Titanic fever. After years of work and preparation, the great luxury liner was finally ready to sail out of the port of Southampton, and the entire population of England seemed to be crowded into the capital city to take part in the festive events to mark the occasion.
Only one person seemed immune to the fever. Preoccupied with her own future as a bride, Emma stood outside her parents’ suite and listened carefully at the door. How long had he been in there? Surely there could be no reason why her father would object to Charles’ desire to marry her. What on earth was taking so long? She paced up and down the hallway, counting her steps.
Finally the door opened and her father appeared with a broad smile and a champagne glass in his hand. “Emma, darling, do come along. You don’t wish to keep your fiancé waiting do you? There is a celebration to be had!”
She hooted with laughter as she picked up her skirts and ran like a child all the way down the hall.
Beth felt as important as the Queen of England as Rupert, beaming with pride, offered his arm. How handsome he looked in his top hat and tails as they rode from the Metropole to their dinner engagement at the nearby Carlton Hotel. Rupert had arranged the farewell dinner and invited all of their friends who were traveling on the Titanic. That this had also turned into an engagement celebration was like fireworks at the end of a parade.
How quickly the years had passed. Here Emma, dear sweet little Emma, was to be married, and the last of her children would be leaving the nest. Well, her daughter had made a good choice in Charles Fortune. He truly would be a wonderful husband for Emma. He would protect and love her, and he was set for a good future in his father’s real estate development company. They would stay in Winnipeg, and Beth would have the pleasure of having her daughter nearby. Rupert was right. The year 1912 would long be remembered.
The dining room at the Carlton was resplendent in lush decorations in recognition of Easter Sunday. A joyful display of jonquils and brightly colored Easter eggs greeted them as they were ushered to the large table in the center of the room. In all, there would be close to twenty in their party. Rupert’s guests included their Montreal friends, Hudson Allison and his wife, and several new people they had befriended in their travels, in addition to the Fortune family and the Winnipeg bachelors known as the three musketeers, John Borebank, John
McAffrey, and Thomson Beattie.
As Rupert and Beth approached the table, a single man rose and greeted them, grandly sweeping into a deep bow. Beth was amused by the extravagant and showy behavior of Americans, and she stifled a giggle as the man kissed her hand. She recognized him as the fellow who was so smitten with Alice Fortune. If only she was better with remembering names! She smiled brightly and looked to Rupert to fill in the blank.
“William! You are the first here. How very good of you to join us this evening.” Rupert pumped his hand and turned to Beth. “Mr. Sloper was kind enough to accept my invitation at the last minute.”
“We are charmed to have you join us, Mr. Sloper,” Beth said.
“Good evening, Mrs. Willows. I thank you both so much for inviting me.”
Rupert’s eyes twinkled with mischief as he nodded in acknowledgment. “One more opportunity to gaze upon the loveliness of Miss Alice Fortune, I suppose?”
“Indeed, you are correct, sir.” Sloper saw no reason to shield his motives. “But I shall have even more time to enjoy her company. You see, Mr. Willows, Alice told me that you had persuaded Mr. Fortune to change ships for the crossing home and that they will be joining you on the Titanic. Alice suggested I might do the same. Of course, I heartily agreed and was fortunate to have secured rather nice accommodations, even on such short notice.”
“I’m delighted to hear it, Sloper.”
“Well, it does seem it would be a pity to miss the maiden voyage of the greatest and most luxurious ship on Earth.”
“I’ll be expecting you to join me for a card game or two on the voyage home,” Rupert said. “It will give me a chance to win back some of the money you took from me in Paris. Ah, here comes the lovely bride-to-be with her intended.”
“Bride, you say?” Sloper reached to kiss Emma’s hand. “Well done, Mr. Fortune. May you have many sweet years of marital bliss ahead. Congratulations to you both!”
As the guests found their way to Rupert’s table, there were enthusiastic greetings and many compliments for the beautifully dressed women. To great amusement, William Sloper liberally showered each of the ladies with air-kissed greetings in the manner of the French and set an animated and warm tone for the evening of celebration.
Rupert was thrilled with the chance to play host to such a well-heeled gathering. He presided grandly, making great show of welcoming the Fortunes in his toast to the future bride and groom and in praising Mark and Mary Fortune for having raised such wonderful and interesting children. The wine flowed, the service was second to none, and the party was charged with an easy and enjoyable liveliness. There was a good deal of merriment in the eyes of the revelers as the servers presented an exquisitely prepared menu of eight courses, ending with a very rich chocolate cake along with banana mouse, whipped cream, and a dazzling array of confections. Rupert could not have been happier.
In time, the diners fell to discussing the highlights of their vacations and the very exciting business of being among the first passengers on the Titanic.
“Mr. Sloper, are you quite sure that you haven’t been frightened off after my experience with the soothsayer in Cairo?” Alice Fortune’s eyes danced as she teased the love-struck man beside her.
“Nothing could keep me from your side, dear Miss Fortune,” he said, pretending to swoon and prompting a giggle from the women. “Besides, if that man knew so much about the future, why on Earth is he still poor? If he had any ability at all, do you not think he would have used his talents to pick the winner in a horse race or two to wrench himself out of his poverty?”
“You should be on Broadway as an entertainer!” John Borebank laughed.
“Whatever are you talking about?” Beth asked over the laughter. “What man?”
Alice raised her eyebrows and fluttered her fan mysteriously as she gained the full attention of the table. “While we were in Cairo, I happened to go out on the veranda one afternoon to rest and enjoy a cup of tea. Mr. Sloper came along shortly and agreed to join me. Just as he was sitting down, this little man popped up in front of me and looked deeply into my eyes. He reminded me a bit of one of those organ grinder monkeys because he moved so rapidly and played his hands with tiny movements. Then he asked if he might take a look at my palm.” She delicately turned her hand to the crowd in demonstration. “I found it rather amusing, so I agreed. He took it in both of his hands. He had such a gentle touch, like feathers holding my hand, but just for a fleeting moment. He practically reeled backward, and I laughed out loud, as I thought he was being dramatic for the purpose of securing a good size gratuity from Mr. Sloper.”
“Did he say anything?” Beth could hardly wait to hear. She had long been fascinated with card readers.
“He said he could see that I would be ‘floating about on the sea in an open boat’. I could only laugh. Mr. Sloper gave him a few coins and the man disappeared into the crowd.”
“Were those the actual words?” Rupert was enthralled.
Alice’s eyes slipped to her mother. It was clear Mary Fortune was greatly displeased with the story and was shifting uncomfortably in her seat. The young woman immediately sought to move on to something else.
“Oh, I don’t remember, exactly.” She tossed her hand to dismiss the interest. “That really was all there was to it.”
But William Sloper missed the cue and barreled on. “He told Alice that she would be in danger every time she traveled on the sea. He said she would lose everything but her life.” He finished with a nod for dramatic emphasis.
“Good heavens,” said Beth, clutching her fan to her breast. “And you are not alarmed?”
“Perhaps I would be had my father not changed our tickets from the Mauritania to the Titanic,” Alice replied. “But, no, I can say that I am perfectly at ease.”
“Sounds ominous,” said Hudson Allison, polishing his spectacles.
“Nonsense. Utter rubbish, I say,” Rupert put in. “There are too many good things happening in the world and particularly among the people at this table. There is simply no room for anything ominous. It would be simply impossible to have anything untoward happen on the world’s safest ship. You did well, too, Mr. Sloper, in changing your tickets. Let’s raise our glasses to the Titanic!”
“Hear, hear,” the gentlemen responded, clinking glasses as the ladies smiled.
Emma looked at Charles and saw a fleeting moment of emotion. Fear, perhaps? He forced a smile, and whatever she had seen in his eyes was gone as quickly as it had appeared. How sensitive he was to be touched by his sister’s story of the soothsayer.
Emma squeezed his hand and smiled warmly as she looked into his eyes. In the glowing light of the candles on the table they appeared to be the color of the ocean against his sandy curls. What lovely children they would have! How proud she would be to be his wife. She ached to be home and preparing for her wedding. Her heart overflowed with happiness at the thought that there would be thousands of moments just like this, holding hands with her darling husband as they built their future together.
Chapter Fifty-Three
The Titanic
April 10, 1912
Rupert found the Titanic to be everything it promised to be. He was greatly impressed with the fine attention to detail exhibited in the luxurious appointments afforded the first class passengers. They were told the ship was carrying twenty-two hundred people with both passengers and crew and, as such, was at only two-thirds of its capacity. Rupert saw this as an advantage, as it meant that their steward would have extra time to look after his family with two empty cabins in his section.
The designers had done a marvelous job, in Rupert’s opinion, in creating a breathtakingly beautiful and comfortable ship. In the days prior to sailing out of Southampton, he had read everything he could find about her. All the facts and figures concerning the mammoth vessel fascinated him, and upon boarding, he was as excited as a boy in candy shop. He took his time examining everything from the choice of the electric lights to the very fine crafts
manship of the spectacular grand staircase placed so beautifully beneath the bowled glass ceiling.
He also appreciated the very careful manner in which the designer had ensured, with discreetly placed locked gates, that the passengers traveling first class would never once have to come into contact with the under classes. Truly, if you hadn’t seen them at the dock, you’d never know that such people existed on the ship. One never saw, heard or smelled them. It was perfect.
Everywhere he turned, Rupert found new aspects of the Titanic to admire. The first class dining saloon was comfortably and brightly decorated, the gymnasium had the latest equipment for exercise, the Palm Court Café was delightful in a manner that reminded him of the refined tastes of Palm Beach, and the covered promenade adjacent to their suite allowed for the full benefit of enjoying the sea air, while being protected from the wind. It was magnificent in every way. Well, perhaps not in every way.
There was the matter of the lifeboats. He thought they cluttered up the boat deck unnecessarily and spoiled the clean lines of the ship. The Titanic exceeded the standards of the day with twenty boats when it would have been allowed to sail with just sixteen. That there were not enough boats to carry even half of the passengers and crew, should the ship be at capacity, troubled Rupert not at all. Why should it? With all he’d read, he was convinced the ship would have to be struck by a meteor before it would founder.
Immediately upon boarding in Southampton, while the ladies saw to their unpacking, Rupert took several hours to explore the vessel. With a keen eye for detail he walked from one end to the other and then through it all again, twice more. It amused him that he was able to offer assistance to a lost crewmember and point him correctly on his way. Like the majority of seamen on the ship, the young steward had been too busy at his post to become familiar with the ship’s layout. Everything was new and every person working on the ship was new to it.
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